Former Blue Titus Bramble is not ruling anything out after lining up for Town for the first time in 11 years during last night's 2-1 friendly victory at Gillingham. The 31-year-old, released by Sunderland in May, says he has a number of options having spent the last fortnight training with West Ham.

Town manager Mick McCarthy says Bramble approached his hometown club regarding spending time training via Simon Milton: “He’d been to West Ham and I got a call from Simon Milton asking if he could come in and train.

“I said of course he could, so I wasn’t lying last time I was asked and I said I hadn’t had a call from him, that was the first time [I’d heard from him]!”

Bramble came through the Town academy, which he now sponsors, before making his senior debut in the 1998/99 season. The Ipswich-born defender was sold to Newcastle United, then managed by Sir Bobby Robson, for £4.5 million in the summer of 2002.

The current Blues boss says the situation is very much in its early stages and that he is yet to speak to the former England U21 international about his wage demands or anything else, having been away from the club on Monday watching Manchester United’s reserves in action.

“He’s come and trained and he’s played one game,” McCarthy said. “He [like some of this summer’s other trialists] might have other options. There’ll be other people here watching tonight.

“Don’t forget he’s getting himself fit, but just the fact he’s here - unless he’s just come round to see his parents because he fancies a couple of days training and a game - would suggest that he’s interested.

“I wasn’t in yesterday, I was elsewhere and I met him for the pre-match meal today, so I need to talk to him.”

McCarthy admits that he felt Bramble was an unlikely target earlier in the summer: “I hadn’t considered him because he’d been released by Sunderland and I just thought a player like him would have other options, and maybe he has.

“Maybe he fancies coming to us. I haven’t had that conversation, but even if I had I wouldn’t tell you, but I haven’t had the conversation.”

Bramble says he’s made no decision on his future as yet: “I’ve been training with West Ham but Ipswich is obviously more convenient for me to train, coming from Ipswich. It’s on my doorstep and Mick and the boys have said I can come in and train.

“I’m not ruling anything out. There are a few options I’ve got. The main thing for me at the moment is to make sure I’m training and make sure I’m right for the start of the season, wherever it may be.”

He says he told Simon Milton that he will be a Town player again, although not necessarily this summer: “I saw Milts a few weeks ago and he asked me about it and I said ‘One day I will come back and play for Ipswich again’. Whether it’s now or in a couple of years’ time, who knows?

“Ipswich is in my heart. I’m from the town, I’m still a fan, the club is everything to me. I’ve always looked out for the results since I’ve left.

“In the past few seasons I’ve been disappointed because I think they’re a Premiership club. At the end of last season under Mick they did very well, so I don’t see why they can’t push for the Premiership this season.

“It’s no secret, I’m a big Ipswich fan," he added. "I said when I left all those years ago, I said I would come back and play football there again one day.”

He admits that dropping out of the Premier League after 13 seasons would be a big step: “Of course, that’s one thing I’ve got to work through in my mind. The next couple of years are important in my career, so I’m keeping my options open.”

Regarding the Gillingham game, he says he was glad to get back on the field and has been impressed with what he has seen of the current Blues squad: “I’ve not played for a while, so it was good to get 70 minutes under my belt.

“When I get back I watch Ipswich. I saw them a couple of times last season so I know they’ve got some very good players. It’ll be good to see them up close and personal over the next week or so.”

He says he expects to be involved in Town’s next friendly at Barnet on Saturday: “I don’t see why not. It’s more training this week and another game at the weekend, so I don’t see why I won’t be involved.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy says the Blues are yet to complete the signing of 18-year-old Waterford winger Jack Doherty, who trained with the squad in Ireland recently: “We’re just talking to him at the moment.”

Elsewhere, Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer has dismissed claims that his club is looking to off-load DJ Campbell only a couple of weeks after the former Blues loanee signed a two-year deal at Ewood Park: "That story was a load of rubbish, I don't know where it came from."

And former Town U18 skipper Callum Bennett is on trial at Chris Kiwomya's Notts County having turned down a one-year pro deal with the Blues last summer.

Photo: Action Images

ShropshireBluenago09 added 06:30 - Jul 17 Hometown club, ex-player , fan, knows the club inside out, sponsors our academy - could prove to be an ITFC legend if he returns and helps us to the Prem. I would guess he wont be offered any Premiership contracts, so get back to ITFC Titus. No brainer.
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theobald1985 added 07:03 - Jul 17 come home titus and.steer us to the prem
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Len_Brennan added 07:09 - Jul 17 At 31 he has one more decent contract, with a Premiership club, in him. At the moment it suits him because he clearly loves the club & is close to home while it also suits Mick because it looks a good bargaining position when dealing with other potential defensive signings - hopefully Stearman & Wolves still. Titus could still command wages that would be twice what we are likely to offer, so this is just not going to happen - this season. Pleased to see that Seaborne was not offered a contract, we have better options on trial now. The Berra link appears to be gone cold though. A right back & 2 centre halves are still required to complete our defensive options.

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BigAlwasmyhero added 07:11 - Jul 17 Would it be an obvious thing to post that we're obviously giving a player game time for the clubs benefit as opposed to the the players benefit and therefore a deal is clearly likely to happen?? If our management think he's right for us then that's fine with me.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:14 - Jul 17 Agree with you theobald, get us to the premiership and play with us there. If you leave it 2 seasons and we are already promoted you maybe over the hill by then, think about it, a no brainer really, get yourself fit and get stuck into the cause.....coyb
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Radlett_blue added 07:26 - Jul 17 Mick doesn't sound desperately keen, does he?
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yorkshire added 07:30 - Jul 17 Would love to see him back - can't understand all the negativity for the guy - he is a Ipswich boy, Ipswich fan and a 13 year Premiership player who got very close to the England team at various points in his career. He would be a fantastic signing
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ipswichtillidie added 07:48 - Jul 17 You'd be no good for us is 2 years Titus, come back now and lets get into the premiership together. He may get a premiership chance but at the end of his career will he look back more fondley saying I helped get my hometown promotion or I helped crystal palace avoid relegation one year!
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 07:53 - Jul 17 He will probably get a call from one of the newly promoted teams. My best bet is Crystal Palace where he will form a solid defensive partnership with Damien Delaney!
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Count_Arthur added 08:31 - Jul 17 Bramble is saying all the right things which isn't doing him any harm on the message boards but we need to move on. I think MM has got us a great team for the new season, Bramble is a backward step - sorry!
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Marshalls_Mullet added 09:04 - Jul 17 Titus, its now or never. Forget about two years time. Its your call, would you like a Kieron Dyer style return, or a John Wark style return? Have a chat with your old team mate Craig Bellamy, he will tell you how satisfying it can be to forget about the money and help your home town team succeed.
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Kesgraveblue57 added 09:06 - Jul 17 Bramble,Vesli,Khumalo these are good players we never had players of this quality even training with the Town in years like these, well done to MM
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peewee added 09:31 - Jul 17 Reason people dislike him is due to his bad attitude outside the game and what I remember is bramble would fall asleep and let a goal in after making 5 blinding tackles. Come bk and prove me wrong id be more than happy to see that.
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gypo added 09:53 - Jul 17 I can't see a problem with this would be great to have him back. We didn't moan when dyer or wright came back and he's got more experience than those two put together playing in the premier league. Come homeTitus COYB
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whittonite added 10:00 - Jul 17 i have always thought that titus would be an excellent defensive midfielder.if he makes a mistake then chances are that smith or chambers would be behind him to sweep up,10 times better passer than n'daw,10 times better tackler than n'daw,would score more goals than n'daw.i think looking at the things titus has been through it would be a big decision for the club to sign him,but as a player we know if titus preforms we can only benefit.if i were big mick i would sign him on a short and then titus can only mess it up for himself....

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peewee added 10:07 - Jul 17 Well I did gypo. Both dyer and bramble have over sized egos and hopefully this is what mick is cuttin out of itfc. No one is bigger than the club
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HarryfromBath added 10:21 - Jul 17 Radlett, I reckon that Mick may simply be putting a lid on things. He will have been made aware of the strength of feeling there would be if Titus were to come home. He is trying to keep the thing as low key as he can, especially in case it all falls through.
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BlueIrish added 10:22 - Jul 17 At 31 I can't see TB willing to accept a 1-year contract especially at this level. His wages are gonna be a stumbling block and in all honesty, do we need the hassle? Sign up Khumalo on a season long loan and Veseli on a 2 year contract. It'll work out cheaper than TB and provides us with more options and better competition for places. It's easy to get sentimental at times, but common sense has to prevail.

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StuartBrett8 added 11:49 - Jul 17 This would be amazing, loads of stupid comments on Tw@ter about him being back up? If he comes he'll be first choice centre back :)
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Kesgraveblue57 added 11:59 - Jul 17 StuartBrett9 If Bramble comes he'll be first choice centre back you are so right simlpy because he better than what we got.
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Kesgraveblue57 added 12:04 - Jul 17 Yes I see the spelling mistake should have been simply is there a way to delete a post ?
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cooper4england added 12:21 - Jul 17 Completely agree with whittonite. I would be hugely excited by this.
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dawoolah added 13:01 - Jul 17 Marshalls Mullet - Could not have put it better myself. Great post.
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essextractorboy93 added 13:08 - Jul 17 Bramble is a town fan and yes he was once a decent defender but he is well past it. Look in the past when we have signed has beens like Lee Bowyer. Would much rather sign Veseli and Khumalo. Bramble's wages would be high as well. I don't see this as being the way forward but I hope I am proved wrong. Whatever our management decide I will back them 100%. In Mick we trust!

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ydnihr added 13:24 - Jul 17 Poor Callum bennett, shows us all how misguidance can make or break careers
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